Suicide attack launched in Afghan capital

A suicide attack has been launched on a traffic police building in the west of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

A car bomb detonated outside the office just before dawn, injuring some civilians and police, officials said.

A number of suicide bombers and gunmen then attacked the building, where fighting is continuing, police said.

The Taliban, which has hit a number of Kabul targets recently, claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to media organisations.

Last week the group attacked the National Directorate of Security in the city centre, killing four guards working for the intelligence services.

The incident was causing traffic gridlock in certain areas of Kabul - where busy intersections are controlled by police rather than traffic lights - as officers were unable to get to work.

Militant groups continue to mount regular attacks in Afghanistan, raising questions as to how the Afghan security forces will cope after international troops leave the country in 2014.